Dr. Klotzbach is the professor of organ at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington and Organist of the Kennilworth Union Church in Kennilworth, Illinois. You will know her name as she has regularly played harpsichord and organ continuo for the Festival for many years. Now, we highlight her prodigious talent in the opening recital of the Festival. Susan Klotzbach received her Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters of Music in Organ Performance from the Eastman School in Rochester, NY. Prior to that she received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa. She has worked as a tenured music faculty member teaching applied organ, harpsichord and church music courses at Houghton College and Carthage College before joining the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan. Come and enjoy music of J.S. Bach on an organ made just for the interpretation of his music!

“What goes through your mind as you sit in the sanctuary and look around?

As I sit in my pew and look up at the cross with the wonderful light illuminating it, I am reminded of why I am at Westminster on this particular day. The cross reminds me that Christ died for me and, in a sense, I am to do the same in my daily life. The brightness of the cross illustrates for me the brightness of living my life in the way of Christ.”